St. Joseph's Turner hoping for ACC ride

When Evan Turner entered St. Joseph three years ago, he was a promising 5-foot-10-inch point guard at a program that has produced playmakers such as Isiah Thomas, Brandon Watkins and Tony Freeman.

Growing 8 inches while retaining those point-guard skills has Turner rated among the top five juniors in the state and yielded scholarship offers from Iowa, Miami, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Marquette, Baylor, Notre Dame, Southern Illinois and Bradley.

But the offer he is hoping for could come in May when he visits North Carolina State.

"The coaches at North Carolina State have told me they will make an offer after my visit," said Turner, whose 14 points per game have helped No. 4 St. Joseph to a 16-1 start. "I like all the schools that have made offers, but N.C. State plays in the [Atlantic Coast Conference], the best in the country."

According to Brian Stinnette of ChicagoHoops.com, Pittsburgh has entered the recruiting for Turner's talented teammate, 6-3 Demetri McCamey. In addition, Lafayette is after 6-7 Zach Kelly of Glenbrook North. Stinnette notes St. Laurence junior point guard Thomas Kopko, ranked No. 1 in his class with a 5.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, is attracting serious interest from Yale.

Loyola assistant coach Shay Boyle has been visible at a number of high school games. The Ramblers are making a big push for 6-7 Homewood-Flossmoor standout Andre Walker and have made an offer to Warren junior guard Ceola Clark, who also has offers from Northern Illinois, Western Illinois and Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Hot commodity

Marshall's Patrick Beverley is clearly the top uncommitted senior in the state, and as such the late interest from schools has blown in like a gale. That is why Beverley, his coach and his family narrowed down his college choices Saturday night to Indiana, Michigan, Virginia and St. John's--all schools that have offered scholarships.

Beverley said he still has interest in Illinois even though the Illini have not made an offer. Coach Bruce Weber has seen Beverley play twice. The 6-2 guard is averaging 36 points for the No. 2 Commandos.

Read between the lines

Indianapolis North Central junior Eric Gordon, who committed to Illinois in November, said he had spoken to fellow junior Derrick Rose of Simeon just once or twice since the two met in a December game.

Thanks to modern technology, the lines of communication remain much more open than that. "I'm still texting him," Gordon said.

Football buzz

According to Tim O'Halloran of rivals.com, Cary-Grove defensive back Alex Kube has changed his mind after making an oral commitment to Ball State. The 6-1, 195-pound second-team All-Stater is now committed to Northern Illinois. The same could happen for Morgan Park defensive end Corbin Bryant (6-4, 240), although this time NIU could lose out. O'Halloran reported Bryant was extended a scholarship offer from Northwestern on Wednesday and will visit the Evanston campus Jan. 27. Bryant had made a previous commitment to NIU.

York quarterback Gus Zerante made an oral commitment to Cornell and will now help that school recruit Downers Grove North offensive lineman Jack Brady and Lincoln-Way East's All-State defensive back Al Mau. Providence running back Jordan Farrell committed to Yale, and Warren tight end Chris Riley has chosen Illinois State.

Wheaton Warrenville South All-State defensive tackle Chris Arthurs has visited SIU and St. Joseph's College and will check out Illinois State, Western Kentucky and Missouri State, according to O'Halloran. Gordon Tech's Tommie Westbrook has an offer from Indiana State.